More focused investment in research and innovation will help to ensure that northern communities have competitive economies in the future. This was a message delivered today at the Northern Economic Summit by UNBC President Dr. Charles Jago, speaking on a panel about productivity.

“Northern BC has been an economic powerhouse for the province, but we must re-tool to be a knowledge-based resource economy connected to the world,” said Dr. Jago. “This includes redirecting R&D investments toward those regions where much of Canada’s wealth is produced.” Currently, northern BC receives less than 2% of the research funding invested in the province.

Beyond attracting more research investment, Dr. Jago announced a proposal for a New North Foundation at UNBC that would connect researchers to areas of critical importance to the regional economy. Although based at UNBC, the Foundation would serve to connect the North to other research universities and institutes elsewhere in the province.

“A new vision for a new north should be based on expanding our own capacity for research, connecting researchers to northern needs, and deliberately applying research to regional economic development,” says Dr. Jago. “Opportunities would include research on forest policy, bioenergy, environmental sustainability, transportation, and opportunities for economic diversification – all oriented to increasing productivity and competitive economies. This is the motivation for the New North Foundation.”

In Dr. Jago’s presentation, he compared the economic challenges northern BC is facing with the rural health care crisis in 2000. He pointed to the creation of the Northern Medical Program as proof that northern BC can be innovative in addressing its challenges, especially when communities, governments, industry, and universities work  together.

The Northern Economic Summit was created by Premier Campbell to explore the unique opportunities and challenges of the northern region with respect to productivity and competitiveness. There are more than 500 delegates attending the summit in Prince George.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC - 250.960.5622

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